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Biomedical subjects

B Weber

Publications and source records attributed to B Weber.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Burn nursing Delphi study: pain management.

In 1989 a Delphi study was undertaken to identify the nursing priorities in burn research. The Delphi technique is a series of questionnaires used to reach consensus. Ninety-four nurses involved in burn care completed four rounds of questionnaires containing 101 research questions. This, the seventh and final report, concerns a significant area of burn research, which is pain management. Eleven (10%) of the 101 questions dealt with pain, whereas five were rated among the top 20 priority questions. As a category the questions concerning pain management had a mean score of 5.91 on a 0 to 7 Likert scale. The questions collectively were cited as having the most impact on the welfare of the patient with burns.

Analgesics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testosterone, gonadotropin, and cortisol secretion in male patients with major depression.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies of sex hormone concentrations in depression yielded inconsistent results. However, the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system seen in depression may negatively affect gonadal function at every level of regulation. The objective of this study was to explore whether major depressive episodes are indeed associated with an alteration of gonadal function. METHODS: Testosterone, pulsatile LH secretion, FSH, and cortisol were assessed using frequent sampling during a 24-hour period in 15 male inpatients with major depression of moderate to high severity and in 22 healthy comparison subjects (age range 22-85 years). RESULTS: An analysis of covariance model showed that after adjustment for age only, daytime testosterone (p < .01), nighttime testosterone (p < .05), and 24-hour mean testosterone secretion (p < .01) were significantly lower in the depressed male inpatients. There was also a trend for a decreased LH pulse frequency in the depressed patients (p < .08). CONCLUSIONS: Gonadal function may be disturbed in men with a depressive episode of moderate to high severity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Structures of BAY o 6997 and BAY q 1313 microbial ACE inhibitors.

BAY o 6997 and BAY q 1313 are two novel ACE inhibitors produced by Streptomyces WS 464 and Streptomyces WS 1065, respectively. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis of the inhibitors and a substance which formed on decomposition of BAY o 6997 on heating in 4 M acetic acid. Both inhibitors are composed of the same amino acids, namely His and 2-methylamino-4-aminobutyric acid. The 2-amino group of His and the 4-amino group of the 2-methylamino-4-aminobutyric acid are bridged by differently substituted ethylene moieties. As determined by gas chromatography on a chiral phase, both amino acids isolated from the total hydrolysate after derivatisation, at least in BAY o 6997, possess the L-configuration.

Aminobutyrates↗
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Studies of the RB1 gene and the p53 gene in human osteosarcomas.

We analyzed 14 native osteosarcoma tissue samples for alterations of the tumor suppressor genes RB1 and p53 on the DNA level, and as far as possible, the RNA level. Southern blot analyses concerning both tumor suppressor genes were carried out in all osteosarcomas. In two cases we could demonstrate a deletion within the RB1 gene. DNA analysis of a third osteosarcoma patient revealed a rearrangement of the p53 gene. We had the opportunity of performing corresponding northern analyses in eight native osteosarcoma specimens. The RB1 gene expression was significantly decreased or completely absent in six tumor samples. In two of these tissue probes the expression of both tumor suppressor genes was missing. We determined coexistence of decreased expression of both tumor suppressor genes in one additional case. In summary, 7/14 or 6/8 cases of osteosarcomas (including only those cases which allowed both analyses) showed RB1 gene alteration. In 3/14 or 3/8 osteosarcomas we could determine p53 gene abnormalities. This may indicate that either loss of p53 function is etiologically important only for the development of some osteosarcomas, or a major part of p53 gene mutations are subtle ones and their detection requires more sophisticated techniques, which are currently under development.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Breast carcinoma located in ectopic breast tissue: a case report and review of the literature.

Ectopic breast tissue usually develops along the mammary ridge. The incidence of this anomaly has been reported as high as 6%. Malignant development is rare. A case of carcinoma of aberrant breast tissue, located in the axilla is described. Mammographies of the ectopic breast performed few years before the diagnosis of carcinoma are presented and also those done for the diagnosis of the tumor. A literature study was performed on carcinoma and ectopic breast tissue. Considering high frequence of node involvements for these cases, the optimal therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
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Polymorphisms of surfactant protein A genes and the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.

The pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as an inflammatory disorder secondary to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is not yet fully understood and still represents a major complication of prematurity. The main pathophysiologic feature of RDS is a primary surfactant deficiency in a structurally immature lung. Pulmonary surfactant contains 90 percent phospholipids and 10 percent proteins (surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D). As surfactant protein A (SP-A) has several major immunological and metabolic intrapulmonary functions, we aimed at investigating an association of polymorphisms of SP-A1 and SP-A2 encoding genes and the risk of BPD. We performed a case-control study exclusively including Caucasian preterm infants below 32 weeks of gestation matched for the degree of immaturity and the year of birth. Venous cord blood was taken prospectively and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), cloning and sequencing. BPD was defined as oxygen dependency or need for mechanical ventilation at day 28. Twenty-three infants with BPD were enrolled (mean gestational age 26.2 weeks; mean birth weight 760.4 g) and compared with 23 infants matched on the basis of gestational age (mean gestational age 27.9 weeks; mean birthweight 1015 g). We observed a significantly increased frequency of the SP-A1 polymorphism 6A6 in infants with BPD compared with controls. In addition to previously established risk factors for BPD, 6A6 polymorphism for SP-A1 gene is an independent co-factor. We believe treatment of neonatal RDS should also include stratification according to genetic risk factors.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

SV40 sequences in human osteosarcoma of German origin.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a dsDNA polyomavirus that induces osteosarcomas and mesotheliomas in hamsters and transforms many types of cells in tissue culture, including human cells. Osteosarcoma is a bone malignancy with multiple molecular lesions underlining progression from normal bone to osteosarcoma. Recent investigations have identified SV40 DNA sequences in osteosarcomas, suggesting that SV40 may contribute to tumor development. However, these studies also demonstrated that geographical differences exist between SV40 and tumor association. Our study analyzed 46 frozen German tumor specimens (42 osteosarcomas and 4 sarcomas initially suspected to be osteosarcomas) for the presence of SV40 DNA sequences by using PCR. Two different primer sets amplifying a 573 bp region of SV40 Tag gene with the complete intron sequence (SV.for 2/SV.rev) and a 172 bp region with no intron sequence (SV.5/SV.6) were used. DNA sequencing analysis verified the results. No SV40 sequences could be detected using the primer set SV.for 2/SV.rev, while 2 out of 42 osteosarcoma specimens and 1 out of 4 poorly-differentiated tumor specimens contained SV40 sequences, using the primer set SV.5/SV.6. From one of these two positive osteosarcomas, multiple tumor biopsies taken at different times during the dissection, including metastasis, tested positive for SV40. These results indicated that in Germany, only rare osteosarcomas can be linked to SV40. These results support previous findings involving geographical differences in the presence of SV40. Finally, the specific detection of SV40 sequences with multiple specimens from one of the two patients and the absence of SV40 sequences in all other samples underscores the specificity and reproducibility of this investigation and ruled out PCR contamination.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The impact of substitution treatment by methadone among opiate-dependent subjects evaluated by Addiction Severity Index and by urine tests].

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been evaluated in the United States and in a few other countries. MMT has been developed in France since 1995, and over 5 000 patients receive this treatment. However no French study has yet been published on the efficacy of MMT as assessed by a validated scale. Retention in treatment for one year has been considered as a threshold to define maintenance of treatment benefits after discharge from a methadone program; determination of retention predictors is important. Over a three year period, we evaluated patients at admission and during treatment using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and urine drug screening was performed weekly; 95 patients (66 males and 29 females) were evaluated at intake. Their mean age was 30.2 5.5, and they had used opioids for a mean of 10.6 5.7 years. Their ASI severity scores for drugs were over 5, showing a clear need for treatment. Female patients differed from males only in the employment-finances ASI score; 43 patients completed at least one year of treatment, after which their drug and legal composite scores significantly improved. No significant changes in their consumption of cocaine, alcohol, benzodiazepines or cannabis were found, but they smoked fewer cigarettes at 12 months. Demographics, ASI severity scores, and history of suicide attempts did not differentiate one-year completers from dropouts (n=16). However, dropouts had used more buprenorphine and less methadone in the 30 days preceding their admission, and they received a lower dose of methadone during treatment. Our population is comparable to other French MMT populations; they enter treatment after a long history of opioid dependence. The improvement found on the ASI composite scores is also similar to the improvement described in other international studies. Dropouts in our study seem to be more treatment-resistant patients, in the sense that they had used more buprenorphine before intake and were not stabilized with it; and they may have had a more negative attitude towards methadone.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraperitoneal injection of dipyridamole increases the life span of tumor bearing mice treated with fluorouracil.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Dipyridamole (DP) combination on the growth of P388 murine lymphoid neoplasms. The first stage was to determine the lethal dose (LD 50) for each compound (5-FU, DP) to normal B6D2F1 mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The LD 50 were 700 and 54 mg/kg for DP and 5-FU respectively. B6D2F1 mice bearing P388 ascitic tumors and receiving a 4-day schedule of 5-FU (2 mg/kg/day) with DP (100 mg/kg/day) 1 hr before each 5-FU dose were studied. DP was found to lower significantly (p < 0.0001) the mortality of 5-FU in tumor bearing mice by nearly 2.5 fold. This study aims at defining the best dose combination of intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU in conjunction with DP. These data allow a prospective evaluation of 4-day, i.p. 5-FU and DP with an increase of life span without toxic death.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Research priorities for burn nursing. Report of the Wound Care and Infection Control Group.

This study was designed to identify research priorities in burn nursing. The Delphi technique of sequential questionnaires was used for data collection. Ninety-four participants completed four rounds of questionnaires. One hundred one research questions were identified and prioritized according to impact on the welfare of patients with burns and impact on the profession of burn nursing. Twenty-three of these research questions concerned issues of wound care or infection control. This group of questions was further analyzed to determine priority research issues. The five most highly ranked questions in the category of wound care/infection control with regard to impact on patient welfare concerned healing of donor sites and skin grafts, wound cleansing, and the effect of pressure garments on wound healing. Similarly, the five most highly ranked questions with regard to impact on the profession of burn nursing concerned the impact of combining patients with burns and patients without burns in the same unit, healing of donor sites and skin grafts, care of the patient with burns who also has acquired immune deficiency syndrome, infection control, and dressing of the burn wound.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ambiguities and discrepancies in EEG monitoring during anesthesia].

Neurophysiological basis of EEG interpretation appears to day stil poor; conversely mathematical and computerized management of EEG waveform is well documented. To quantify the signal two main procedures are now used: spectral analysis of frequency and aperiodic analysis. As for others electro-biological signals, to-day micro-computers facilities for exemple colored in prospect screen presentation, picture or EEG call back, data record and printing...allows such a management easy to read by anyone in real time and into operating room or intensive care unit conditions. Such possibilities are now the main point of EEG monitoring because it appears as an empiric clinical practice. The knoledge of genuine activity of anesthesic drugs on neuron and neurologia metabolism, local cerebral blood flow and/or neuromediators concentration is not wider than EEG neurophysiological basis. So that, more than the EEG signal itself, alterations of its stability allows specific monitoring for anesthesia which could be more beneficial than others to day usual.

Anesthesia↗